The workshops cover a range of technology topics such as robotics, electronics, 3D printing and coding, she says. “We aim to create New Zealand’s first generation of digital natives to become tech leaders in creating and deploying technologies we can’t even imagine yet.”

“OMGTech! wants to help enable our tamariki to be creators with technology not just consumers of technology,” says OMGTech! co-founder Zoe Timbrell.

But cost is a major factor for a number of schools that would like to participate in their workshops, says Timbrell. “Access to future technologies can be expensive and out of reach for many so being able to bring our workshops directly into schools allows us to reach a much larger group of kids.

“Understanding how it all works will be a fundamental requirement to participation in society in the future. It's important to become a digital citizen not just from a job creation point of view but from a societal one. Our kids will be using technology to shape their world in the future.”

OMGTech! wants to help enable our tamariki to be creators with technology not just consumers of technology

Timbrell says by partnering with major technology companies, OMGTech! is able to deliver its programmes directly into schools.

“This allows the children to spend time with, and hear stories, from people who are working in the technology sector. The lessons are designed by OMGTech! and the company volunteers work with groups of students in school to deliver them,” she says.

“Participating children learn valuable technology skills as well as understanding future pathways they otherwise might not encounter.”

Mark Beder, chief operating officer at Spark, says the workshops are a great fit with Spark’s volunteer programme. “Spark people love technology and sharing that passion and we're looking forward to having our people help deliver these workshops.”

“The technology sector is our third largest export sector and the creative technology sector is growing fast as well with the film, music and game design industries all flourishing,” says Vaughan Rowsell, co-Founder of OMGTech!

Vend CEO Vaughan Rowsell.

If New Zealand is to become a world leader in technology, we need to ensure all our kids have equity of access and our teachers have the right support to help deliver on that vision

“These industries are creating the jobs of the future,” says Rowsell. “They have a strong role to play in helping to upskill the next generation and this programme allows them to work directly with schools to inspire the next generation.”

Vaughan, who is also the founder of Vend,and vice chair of the New Zealand High Tech Trust, says, “It is important that we ensure every Kiwi kid has access to future technologies… We need to ensure that we are focusing on getting digital education to into our underserved communities.”

“If New Zealand is to become a world leader in technology, we need to ensure all our kids have equity of access and our teachers have the right support to help deliver on that vision,” he concludes.

Copyright 2019 IDG Communications. ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited.